The Best Sleep Aid Non-Habit-Forming

Sleep deprivation is something that a lot of people don’t take seriously. They just ignore it and hope it will go away or rush to get some prescription sleep aids that often do more harm than good. Everything that’s consumed in excess can lead to addiction: from sugar to alcohol, from pain medication to sleeping pills. This article is meant to be more than just a review round-up; it’s meant to give you a more in-depth perspective on how sleep aids can get the best of you and to give you a meaningful understanding of all your options.

6 Best Sleep Aid Non-Habit-Forming Comparisons

Rank	Product	Highlights
#1	Genius Sleep AID buy now	Dimensions: N/A Weight: 3.2 ounces Sold As: container with 40 capsules
#2	MidNite Natural Sleep buy now	Dimensions: 1 x 4.4 x 4.8 inches Weight: 0.6 ounces Sold As: box with 30 chewables
#3	Alteril Sleep Aid buy now	Dimensions: N/A Weight: 10.6 ounces Sold As: box with 60 tablets
#4	Natrol Melatonin Fast Dissolve Tablets buy now	Dimensions: 2.3 x 2.3 x 4.3 inches Weight: 2.88 ounces Sold As: bottle with 100 tablets
#5	LUNA Sleep Aid buy now	Dimensions: 2 x 2 x 4.2 inches Weight: 0.8 ounces Sold As: bottle with 60 capsules
#6	DREAMRITE Natural Sleep Aid buy now	Dimensions: N/A Weight: 1 ounce Sold As: bottle with 60 capsules

What Are Your OTC (over-the-counter) Options?

According to Carl W. Bazil, director of the Epilepsy and Sleep Division at Columbia University’s Department of Neurology, sleep aids that contain substances such as diphenhydramine don’t really create physical dependence, but rather a psychological one. In other words, your body isn’t the one who demands these substances, it’s your brain. You are hooked on the feeling that there isn’t the slightest chance in the world of you falling asleep without them

Heading down to the drug store to buy over-the-counter sleep aids is the first impulse that many people get when they’re facing insomnia. While they may be good short-term options, these sleep aids should never be consumed over the period exceeding two to four weeks. A lot of these sleep aids are based on antihistamines as their main active ingredient. The more you consume these meds, the higher the chances of your body developing a tolerance to their sedative effects.

The important thing to remember is that most of your OTC options are non-habit forming because the chances of you buying something that could cause addiction WITHOUT a medical prescription are very low. Even so, your OTC sleep aids need to be from a trustworthy source. But even these OTC options are not to be consumed over a period that exceeds two consecutive weeks. Even a non-habit forming sleep aid can have its side effects, so it’s important not to abuse them and always check out the manufacturer’s dosage recommendations.

What these sleep aids basically do is to promote two things. First, they increase certain chemicals that are already inside your body and which help promote sleep (such as melatonin or serotonin). Or, they can decrease the presence of other types of chemicals that generally cause the body to feel tired and overwhelmed. The general acceptance is that it’s better to increase some of the body’s natural substance rather than try to inhibit or absorb other substances. Going a bit deeper into biology, we can tell you that our bodies remove any excesses substance and only takes what it needs to function correctly. This, in turn, reduces the number of side effects and the chances of turning you into a medication addict.

By taking medication that can suppress the natural body reaction, you are exposing yourself to a lot more side effects. Non-habit forming sleep aids are made with ingredients and combine formulas that basically encourage your body to sleep. But be aware: even if these OTC sleeping aids don’t require a medical prescription, you should still avoid taking them “by ear” and consult with your physician to get an expert opinion.

The Top 6 Best Sleep Aid Non-Habit-Forming Reviews

So, what is the best non-habit-forming sleep aid that’s natural non-addictive? Let’s find out!

#1. Genius Sleep AID

Specs:

• Dimensions: N/A
• Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Sold As: container with 40 capsules

Out list of non-habit sleep aids debuts with Genius Sleep Aid. This is a product that promises to prevent you from waking up in the middle of the night and cure the ever-stressful issues that come together with insomnia or sleep apnea. This supplement combines active ingredients such as inositol, glycine, l-theanine and even 0.5 mg of melatonin. The combination of ingredients and amino acids helps relax the body and induces that state of calm that the body needs to undergo in order for us to fall asleep. Even more, Genius Sleep Aid is also focused on reducing anxiety by relaxing your body and your mind.

With a natural product such as Genius Sleep Aid, one can avoid turning to other over-the-counter options by purchasing these veggie capsules which are sold in a convenient bottle of 40 meds. What’s more, the capsules contain rutaecarpine, also known as the caffeine cleanse aid. Rutaecarpine helps eliminate caffeine from the body and prevents those sudden state of restlessness and rush. Because of the mix of active ingredients, there are fewer chances of your body and your health of forming the habit of turning to sleep aids on a regular basis.

Pros

• Help calm anxiety symptoms.
• Contains natural ingredients.
• Contains rutaecarpine, also known as the caffeine cleanse aid.
• Has a small dose of melatonin.
• Is a non-habit forming sleep aid.

Cons

• Causes next-day grogginess in some people.

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#2. MidNite Natural Sleep

Specs:

• Dimensions: 1 x 4.4 x 4.8 inches
• Weight: 0.6 ounces
• Sold As: box with 30 chewables

With a herbal blend of lavender, chamomile and lemon balm, and a little bit of melatonin to top it off, MidNite is one of the best non-habit forming sleep aids we’ve ever come across so far. What’s really interesting about MidNite is that it uses melatonin that’s made from plant sources instead of human and animal-derived melatonin, which is said to be less healthy. But there more benefits to this sleep aid than that. Because it functions as a mild sedative, you can take it even if you wake up in the middle of the night and fail to fall asleep again, but make sure there are at least three hours’ time before the alarm goes off.

Second, it’s important to note that there are no side effects the next morning, as it won’t cause dizziness or lack of focus. That’s because MidNite doesn’t contain any drug-like ingredients which often lead to these side effects. It also doesn’t contain any glucose or lactose, which broadens the target audience. Also, they don’t contain any ingredients that could interact with those from meds taken by people who suffer from prostate, bronchitis or glaucoma-related problems. Because these aids are chewable, they don’t require any water to ingest, which prevents you from having to take nocturnal trips to the kitchen if you want to take one.

Pros

• Can be taken in the middle of the night.
• Chewable, don’t require any water.
• Is made with plant-sourced melatonin.
• Doesn’t have any next-day side effects.

Cons

• Contains bromelain, a pineapple derivate which makes this sleep aid unsuitable for people who are allergic to pineapple.
• Not indicated for pregnant or breastfeeding women.

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#3. Alteril Sleep Aid

Specs:

• Dimensions: N/A
• Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Sold As: box with 60 tablets

Alteril is yet another over-the-counter option for people who are looking for non-habit forming sleep aids. This sleep aid combines melatonin and L-tryptophan, which is an essential amino acid that our bodies don’t naturally produce and that we typically get from food or supplements. Available in both animal and plant proteins, this amino acid is later converted by our bodies into serotonin and melatonin, which induces the relaxing before-sleep state. But there are way more useful ingredients in Alteril, like chamomile, lemon balm, valerian and passion flower, all of which are considered natural sleep aids and used in a lot of non-habit forming meds.

But, as with every other form of medication, Alteril does have its ups and downs. Since it doesn’t contain any antihistamines, there are virtually no chances of waking up the next day feeling drowsy or losing the ability to concentrate. It also doesn’t interact with alcohol, which means that you can still enjoy a glass of wine or a nice cold beer when you get home from work. However, it’s not advisable to operate any heavy machinery until the effects of the sleep aid have run off. Because of the combination of ingredients, it takes little time between administering Alteril and falling asleep. Even so, be advised that Alteril is not a sleep aid for children.

Pros

• Contains a good mixture of ingredients such as valerian, lemon balm, and chamomile.
• Doesn’t have any next-day side effects.
• Doesn’t interact with alcohol.
• Contains L-tryptophan, an essential amino acid that our body converts to serotonin and melatonin.

Cons

• Not suitable for children use.

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#4. Natrol Melatonin Fast Dissolve Tablets

Specs:

• Dimensions: 2.3 x 2.3 x 4.3 inches
• Weight: 2.88 ounces
• Sold As: bottle with 100 tablets

Melatonin supplements are always a good idea for those of you who are looking for a little boost to help you fall asleep faster but don’t want to fall prey to some habit forming sleeping medication. Natrol is a very common melatonin supplement in the US and preferred a lot of people. Since it does not contain any antihistamines, you won’t get most of the side effects that are typical to sleeping pills that contain them. What melatonin supplements do is increase the level of this hormone in your body, which is responsible for distinguishing between the daytime and the night time cycle and tells you when it’s time to go to bed.

Natrol doesn’t contain any ingredients that could cause even the mildest form of addiction and is even recommended in a situation where you have trouble falling asleep because of jet lag or have a disrupted sleep-wake cycle because of night shifts. Because of the strawberry flavor, these supplements have a very pleasant fruity taste and you can even ingest them without any water.

Pros

• Considered some of the best and most popular sleep aids in the USA.
• Help regulate the melatonin levels in your body.
• Don’t contain any habit-forming ingredients.
• Are sold in a convenient bottle with 100 capsules.

Cons

• Aren’t that tasty as advertised.
• Contain sugar.

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#5. LUNA Sleep Aid

Specs:

• Dimensions: 2 x 2 x 4.2 inches
• Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Sold As: bottle with 60 capsules

There can’t possibly be a non-habit forming sleep aid article without at least mentioning the LUNA product. That’s because it has one of the best ingredients blends that we expect to see in a product of its kind. It will help you fall asleep and wake up energized with no side effects the next day. LUNA’s capsules contain a mix of passionflower, lemon balm, valerian root, GABA, L-Theanine and more. Because all the ingredients are naturally sourced, only an overdose could lead to any harmful effects. The added melatonin is what turns this OTC sleep aid into a natural mean of increasing the melatonin presence in your body, inducing the state required before falling asleep.

GABA is a neurotransmitter that our bodies normally get from fermented food but is also produced “in-house”. With the added L-theanine, LUNA pushes the body towards a state of calm and peacefulness, to promote healthy sleeping habits without the worry of becoming addicted to this and that substance.

Pros

• Made with naturally-sourced ingredients.
• Helps regulate the body’s natural sleep/wake cycle.
• Contains all-vegan ingredients, like chamomile extract, passionflower extract, and melatonin.
• Doesn’t bring any negative side effects and leaves you waking up energized the next day.

Cons

• Depending on your organism, it can take up to three hours for the effects to kick in.

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#6. DREAMRITE Natural Sleep Aid

Specs:

• Dimensions: N/A
• Weight: 1 ounce
• Sold As: bottle with 60 capsul

If you’re ready for one more veggie experience, DREAMRITE’s sleep aids are at your disposal. This particular sleep aid is made with the best non-habit forming ingredients. It contains valerian root, which has been around for centuries and is used by people who want to get into a more relaxed state. It contains chamomile, a herb which is already popular amongst people who enjoy a cup of tea to calm the nerves. It has lemon balm, which has soothing and calming effects. It also contains magnesium, which is known for its muscle-relaxing benefits. It also contains GABA, hops, tryptophan and passion flower and, of course, melatonin.

This blend of ingredients helps induce a state of sleep on both a physical and a mental level, making sure that you won’t wake up feeling groggy or tired the next day. And if that doesn’t convince you, you can always take advantage of the generous return policy that promises customers they can get their money back if the product isn’t working for them.

Pros

• Contains a mixture of natural ingredients.
• Doesn’t cause grogginess or dizziness the next day.
• The product can be returned for a full refund if you’re not happy with it.

Cons

• Doesn’t put you out, so you may still wake up in the middle of the night.

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You may want to read: Best Over the Counter Sleep Aids

The Bottom Line

There is more to getting a good night sleep than just taking sleep aids. It’s important to adopt a healthy lifestyle altogether. The secret lied not only in taking sleep aids that aren’t habit forming but also in the little details that can help promote sleep. Whenever you go to bed with your TV on, without taking a shower to relax the mind and the muscles, without proper exercise and after having eaten a heavy dinner just two hours before, it’s normal for your body not to get in the sleeping mood.

But if you do ultimately decide to take sleeping aids, stick to the more natural options, like the ones we’ve reviewed in today’s article. When taken in the right dosage and for a predetermined period of time, these meds can help promote a healthy body, without the risk of producing unwanted side effects.